Box-lid and tag support.



UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BOX-LID AND TAG SUPPORT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 699,682, dated May 13, 1902.

Application filed September 5, 1901- Serial No. 74,473. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Beit known that I, GEORGE W. HARTMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kansas City, in the county of W'yandotte and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Box-Lid and Tag Supports, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a box-lid and tag support; and my object is to produce a device of this character adaptable for quick and reliable attachment to a cigar-box or analogous structure for the purpose of supporting the lid open at the angle best adapted to expose the contents of the box, the name and trademark thereof, and a price or equivalent card and yet permit the lid to be easily depressed to give convenient access to the contents of the box or of a box or boxes in line with and at a greater distance from the salesman or other person in charge.

A further object is to produce a device of this character of exceedingly simple, strong, durable, and cheap construction.

To these ends the invention consists in certain novel and peculiar features of construction and combinations of parts, as hereinafter described and claimed, and in order that it may be fully understood reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings,in which-- Figure 1 represents a sectional perspective View of a cigar box or like device equipped with a support for holding a card and the lid of the box open. Fig. 2 is an end view of the box provided with said support. Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 1, but showinga slightlymodified construction of the support.

Referring now to the drawings, where like reference-numerals designate corresponding parts, 1 designates a coil of spring-wire of suitable gage.

2 designates an angle-arm formed at one end of the coil, and 3 an approximately straight arm formed at the other end of the coil. The arm 3,which is the longer arm, terminates in an approximately U-shaped portion or fork 4 and adjacent to said U-shaped termination is bent to form a single coil or convolution 5, said coil or convolution lying at the same side of arm 3 as coil 1.,

In the preferred construction the angle-arm 2 terminates in a sharpened end or spur 2,

which projects inward and approximately parallel with coil 1, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. In Fig. 3 the angle-arm has no such spur.

To secure either form of the support in operative position on a box, as at A, angle-arm 2 is hooked over one end of the box near a rear corner thereof. In the preferred construction when thus arranged the vertical portion of said arm lies at the outside of the box and the coil 1 within the box, the latter some distance rearward of the former, and the sharpened end or spur 2 of the arm is embedded in the outer side of the box. In the construction shown in Fig. 3 to secure the angle-arm reliably an awl (not shown) is employed to first form a vertical hole in the upper edge of the box forward of coil 1, as at C, which hole is engaged by the vertical portion of said angle-arm. After either form of the device is secured, as explained, the longer or upwardly and rearwardly projecting arm 3 is sprung slightly outward in order that its U-shaped terminal portion 4 can be caused to slidingly embrace the edge of the lid B, so that when the latter is pressed back coil 1 acts as a hinge-coil and permits arm 3 to be depressed also, the coil returning the arm and the lid to their original position immediately the overcoming pressure is removed, as will be readily understood. In this connection it will be observed that by pressing the arm 3 outward to engage the edge of the lid the coil and vertical portion of the angle-arm are pressed in opposite directions against the end of the box, which clamping action continues after the lid is engaged by arm 3, and therefore tends to maintain the support in its proper position upon the box.

In establishments for retailing cigars and other articles from a box it is customary to arrange the boxes in alinement, with all of the lids open, so as to at once expose the contents of each box and the trade-mark, name of the manufacturer, &c., usually found on the inside of the lid. Ordinarily the cigar case is so constructed that a salesman to reach a box in the front of the case has to reach over the boxes in the rear, and, as the cases are usually shallow, itis frequently necessary to disarrange the boxes in the rear to obtain access to the front ones.

With my improved invention applied to all of the boxes it is evident that a salesman in reaching forward can press down the lids ofall of the boxes up to and including the one from which he desires to extract cigars or other articles, which lids when the pressure of his arm is removed will instantly resume their original position without requiring any further attention on his part. Itis thus clear that the salesman will be saved considerable time and labor by the use of my improved support.

In Fig. l I showin dotted lines an ordinary price-card or equivalent D, the same being grasped between the spring-jaws formed by convoluting or coiling, as at 5, the arm 3. This arrangement supports the card reliably and at the same time permits it to be easily removed or replaced, and it also keeps it exposed to the view of the purchaser at all times except when depressed by the salesmans arm when depressing the lids, as hereinbelore explained.

From the above description it will be apparent thatI have produced a box-lid and tag support embodying the features of advantage enumerated as desirable in the statement of invention and that I reserve the right to make such changes as properly fall within its spirit and scope.

Having thus described the invention, what Iclaim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. The combination with a box provided with a hinged lid, of a support, comprising a coil arranged within the box near one of the rear corners, and provided with an angle-arm fitting over the contiguous end of the box, and provided with a second or hinge arm projecting upwardly and rearwardly and terminating in a U-shaped portion embracing the contiguous end of the box-lid.

2. The combination with a box provided with a hinged lid, of a support, comprising a coil arranged within the box near one of its real-corners, and provided with an angle-arm fitting over the contiguous end of the box, and provided with a second or hinge arm projecting upwardly and rearwardly and terminating in a U-shaped portion embracing the contiguous end of the box-lid, and provided also With a coil or convolution to support a card in front of and parallel with the face of said lid, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.-

GEORGE W. HARTMAN.

\Vitnesses:

H. O. RODGERS, G. Y. THORPE. 

